Every year around this time, the temperatures begin to increase. Simultaneously, the important events of the plumbing engineering industry tend to do the same. This month,PM Engineeronce again presents its annual Fire Protection & Design Special Section. It contains articles on three hot topics in fire protection: the growing need for residential sprinklers as a way to reduce fire fatalities; the basics of piping a residential sprinkler system; and the impact of the IRC’s requirement for fire sprinkler systems in new construction.
A Worldwide Concern
Fire protection remains a hot topic-both here in the United States and abroad. Case in point: Fireprotec-the Trade Exhibition for Preventive Fire Protection was just held (March 6-10) in Frankfurt, Germany, for the first time in association with the annual ISH Trade Fair. This was the second Fireprotec trade exhibition, which is a joint effort of Messe Frankfurt and ZILLER-ASS Sachverständigen GmbH Brandschutz.Equally important were two events held parallel to Fireprotec: the XI Building Law & Fire Protection Symposium and the first International Building Law & Fire Protection Symposium.The focus of the building law symposium was the conflict between legal requirements and their implementation in practice. Topics covered at the first International Building Law Symposium included the plans for the new Hall 11 at Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre as an example of an optimized fire-protection concept.
NFSA and NFPA
With ISH done, the focus of fire protection shifts back to America and the annual National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) events. Once again, the NFSA event (May 3-5) will include general sessions, in-class seminars and exhibitions. What’s new at the NFSA this year is the “Top Tech” competition in order to find the best sprinkler system design technicians in the country.As for the NFPA World Safety Conference & Exposition (June 3-5), this renowned gathering will again present many important sessions. Titles that draw my interest include NFPA and fire safety in high-rise buildings, fire service features of buildings and fire protection systems and the effect of air diffusers on sprinkler response time in commercial buildings.
Between our current supplement and these past/upcoming events, it’s safe to say that this summer will be a warm one-at least in terms of our industry keeping up with the latest happenings in fire protection and its impact on society.
